A man hasn't got a corner on virtue just because his shoes are shined.

- Ann Petry

All life goes in a circle, around and around, you started at one place, and then came right back to it again.

- Ann Petry

Black was bestlooking. ... Ebony was the best wood, the hardest wood; it was black. Virginia ham was the best ham. It was black on the outside. Tuxed…

- Ann Petry

Folks differs, dearie. They differs a lot. Some can stand things that others can't. There's never no way of knowin' how much they can stand.

- Ann Petry

Everything you ever had, everything you ever lost. It's all there in the trumpet--pain and hate and trouble and peace and quiet and love.

- Ann Petry

If I were a maker of perfumes, I would make one and call it 'Spring,' and it would smell like this cool, sweet, early-morning air.

- Ann Petry

Sometimes I look at my own movies

- Ann Petry

All truly great art is propaganda.

- Ann Petry